Fatal Alliances: Chapter 32

Mrs. Gilbert had gone to take note of what was occurring in her house while Adrian and I entered my previous house. I was actually surprised to see it this clean. I honestly thought a mountain of cobwebs would be building up inside this place after we left. The only reason my sisters and I hadn’t left the Dawnlys and come back here was that they were like family to us. How could we just leave? We all cared for each other. Going away from them would be like losing the people you love again. I noticed Adrian was looking at some of the pictures on the shelf.

“Were you always so erratic?”

“Excuse me?” I asked turning to him.

“You look so impish in all the pictures.”

I gave a soft laugh at that, he was actually right, “Because I was. I was always the wicked one in the family.”

“I guess there are some things that can’t heal with time.” he smirked fixing his gaze on another picture, “Well this is something.”

It was a picture of me back in high school with five other girls in our cheer outfits. It’s sad to say that I have no idea where those girls were now. I never kept in contact with anyone back here after my parents died and we left.

“First cheerleader I met that eats so much junk,” Adrian chuckled.

“Hey, you don’t have to make me feel bad about it.”

With a wicked curve on his lips, he replied, “Make you feel bad? I’d never do such a thing.”

“Gosh, you’re unbelievable.” I rolled my eyes walking away, “Come on, I’ll show you the guest room.”

I kind of like the idea that I could lead Adrian. He couldn’t control me now, even if I was just showing him the way to a room, it was nice to be the boss for a change.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” His voice was smooth like silk behind me.

He should really stop reading my mind and analyzing me, it’s starting to get creepy, “Enjoying what? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You know what I’m talking about, love.”

Arriving in the room I turned around, only to bump into him. God, I was flushing. We were so close to each other. Couldn’t he have kept his distance?

“Pink’s a nice look on you, Greene.” He chuckled, looking down at me. I hadn’t realized how tall he actually was in front of me.

“Uhh…”

“Oh and before I forget, when someone asks you who am I to you- then please for God’s sake don’t say I’m your ex-employer. I mean, what the hell would you be doing with your ex-employer anyway?” He stated as he gently pushed me aside and went into the room.

Just forget it, don’t mind what he said. Just walk away. But really, what did he expect me to address him as then? I’ll ask him. No, I shouldn’t bother him again, I should let him rest. Besides, he was driving for such a long time and he didn’t even wake me up. After taking a bath, I went downstairs only to be greeted by Mrs. Gilbert who was entering the house.

“Oh, look I had just baked a pie this morning. Chicken pot pie.” She smiled, resting it on the kitchen counter.

“Wow, it’s been so long since I ate one of your dishes.”

“I was thinking Julie, that there’s a new mall nearby. I really wanted to check it out, maybe we could go.”

“Oh, well that’s sounds great!” I exclaimed, “I haven’t gone shopping in such a long time. We should go.”

“What about your-”

“He’s sleeping, I should let him rest. He’s probably tired.” I continued, “But we can go together. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”

“Alright, I’m going to quickly feed Snickers first.”

After she came back and we headed out, I felt a bit strange about leaving Vandermir there. I should’ve told him I went out. Upon arriving at the mall, I pulled out my phone and sent him a message.

Out with Mrs. G., be back soon.

There’s food on the counter if you’re hungry.

-Greene

.

Clicking send, I looked back at the message with a sigh. I hope he doesn’t flip, maybe I shouldn’t have come here. What if he had wanted me to go with him somewhere today to sign the document? Oh God, I hope not. Shopping seemed dreadful when you had a lot on your mind. He probably woke up by now. I looked at my phone again when I realized that I had gotten a message from him an hour ago. Why didn’t I notice it before?

Have fun, love.

Love? Since when did he start being sweet to me? Urgh, this was just too weird and impossible to think about. I hadn’t realized it, but we spent nearly the entire day here.

“Maybe we should go back,” I told Mrs. Gilbert, who quickly agreed.

On our way back I felt odd, like we were being watched. Thankfully, there were other families outside and the sun hadn’t set yet, that was the only thing that seemed to comfort me at the moment. We were supposed to be safe because of that, right? I kept saying a silent prayer on the way home. Nothing should happen to Mrs. Gilbert because of me. If anything happens to her I won’t forgive myself.  Fortunately, we arrived back safe and sound. Closing the door, Mrs. Gilbert looked at me in a worried manner.

“Are you alright, sweetheart? You seem very tense.”

“Oh, I’m fine. It’s nothing.” I assured her walking into the living room, where I saw Adrian drinking a bottle of water and using his laptop.

“How was it?” He asked casually.

“Okay.”

“Did you eat, dear?” Mrs. Gilbert suddenly asked Vandermir.

“I was about to.” He simply replied.

“Oh well that’s great, we’ll eat together.” She said as she began slicing the pie.

Taking out the dishes, I couldn’t stop thinking about how I felt on the way back here. What if it was something serious? What if it wasn’t just in my head? I hadn’t realized but the glass had slipped out my hand, shattering into a million pieces on the floor.

“Julie!” Mrs. Gilbert cried rushing up to me, “Are you hurt?”

“N-no. I’m sorry, I’ll clean it up.” I apologized as I brushed past Adrian quickly.

While Mrs. Gilbert helped me clean it, I tried to get myself together. I was probably just paranoid. So much happened, how could I not be? At dinner, Vandermir and Mrs. Gilbert really hit it off when they started to talk about politics. It was rather annoying sitting and listening to these two talk about something that I found extremely uninteresting. It made me realize how much I had no clue about Adrian’s likes and dislikes, his hobbies, family, anything. I was going around with a man I had no idea about.

Well, this just puts a damper on your ethics, Greene.

I was tired of hearing them go on and on about this. They weren’t even acknowledging my existence. Mrs. Gilbert was probably unknowing of that, but I knew for a fact Vandermir wasn’t. Maybe I should just head upstairs, I was beginning to feel a bit tired already.

“Excuse me,” I said as I got up, washed my plate, and headed to my room.

I needed to calm down. I went into my restroom and turned the shower on as I imagined the water washing away my misery. After turning the shower off, I wrapped myself in the plush white towel and stared at myself in the vanity mirror. While drying my hair, I heard a knock on the door. It must have been Mrs. Gilbert bringing the shopping bags I forgot in the living room. I really had to get myself together and try not to be so forgetful.

Tightening the towel around me, I brushed my fingers through my hair as I opened the door. I did not expect this. My heart leaped out of my chest as I gaped at the person standing in front of me.

FML

Vandermir was even shameless enough to scan his eyes on me, “Is this how you normally greet men at your door, Greene?” He bit in his smirk.

“What do you want?” I inhaled for composure, trying my best to not look so embarrassed and mortified.

“We need to discuss something.” He stated as he brushed past me, entering my room.

“Right…now…?”

Was this guy serious? I was in my towel, naked, and he was in my room. What the actual hell? What kind of discussion was he even going to start in this situation?

“Shut the door.” He stated in a low voice.

“Excuse me?”

“For God’s sake, shut the damn door, Greene.” Adrian iced, already irritated at repeating himself.

I honestly wasn’t sure what the hell to do. I felt like my brain completely shut itself down. Gently shutting the door, I made my way to the other side of the room when he suddenly walked calmly towards me.

More like a lion and prey situation. Every step he took towards me, I edged myself back. He was only two feet away when I suddenly walked a little too further back and tripped on the thick fluffy carpet. I literally fell on my butt, almost twisting my ankle.

“Christ, woman, what the hell is wrong with you?”

“It’s all your fault! You’re such an ass! You-you bipolar, sociopathic, dumbass! You’re a sick perverted creep, that’s what you are.” I cried angrily and frustrated, “You could have at least given me two minutes to put some clothes on!”

Adrian said nothing, but simply blinked at me in what seemed like surprise, yet soon turned into amusement. “Wait,” He began with a raspy chuckle, “What did you think I was going to do to you, Greene?”

“Just get out!”

Completely ignoring my command, he stooped to the ground where I was and scooped me in his arms, standing up.

“What-what are you doing? Put me down! Adrian! Put me down or else I’ll scream!” I angrily pouted.

This was definitely not the time to go bridal style on me Vandermir! Not when I want to kill you.

“Do you come with an off switch?” He frowned as he walked across my room.

“You’re not allowed to touch me anywhere.”

He chuckled with a playful smirk, “Are you talking dirty to me, Miss Greene?”

“Just put me down, you pig!”

In that precise moment, he dropped me carelessly on the bed, almost like I was some sort of log.

“Happy now, princess?” He asked dryly without a goddamn care in the world, “And for the record, you have nothing I haven’t seen before.”

That. Was. It.

Pushing myself up on the bed, I stood mightily looking at the bastard in front of me and pointed my finger warningly at him.

“Listen here, Mister! Who the hell gave you the right!” I angrily began as I stomped on the bed in frustration, “This is my room and my bed! I do what I want! I’m not a little kid!”

Adrian stared at me almost in disbelief, “Be careful before that towel of yours drops, sweetheart.”

“Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“To be honest, you don’t have much to offer, Greene.”

“Why you son of a bastard! I’ll murder and feed you to the shar- ”

Before I could complete my sentence, I fell off the bed. Well… almost. He caught me. His hands burned through the material of the towel but kept them both on either side of my waist. I honestly didn’t know what to say. He could have left me to fall. Hell, if I was him I would have done that. But he didn’t. Adrian didn’t.

What was it about this man that made me feel so weak when he came close to me? He was a bastard, arrogant and spiteful but there was so much more to him. Slowly, yet gently, he steadied me to the ground. My darn towel was falling off, I knew it, but at that moment he pushed me almost pleasantly against the wall. His left hand caressed the bare small of my back as he tightly tilted my chin to face his. His eyes scorched grey flames, yet there was the hint of a somewhat suppressed softness within them.

“Are you done with your tantrum?”

“Adrian…” I breathed in a whisper, almost shocked at how intoxicated I was feeling with his nearness.

“I hadn’t come in here to fight with you, Miss Greene.” He replied with eyes fixed on my lips.

It seemed hard to breathe. I sucked in my breath almost in anticipation as he brought his face closer to mine.

Please… some part of me sinningly begged. Our lips teased each other yearningly but never touched. It was aching too. This temptation was eating me, when suddenly I was startled back to my reality from a knock on the door.

What the hell was I doing?  

Adrian took a step away from me as I remained dumbstruck for a moment.

“Julie, are you awake?” Mrs. Gilbert knocked again.

Damn. I clutched the towel tighter covering me, fully aware that Adrian was right there.

“I- I’m- changing.” I lied trying to keep my voice steady.

“Oh well, I brought your bags. They’re by the door when you’re finished.” She said as I listened until her footsteps faded away.

Vandermir stared at me for a moment before he turned around to leave.

“Adrian,” I called with my voice oddly soft and honeyed which made him stop, but not turn around to face me.

“Whatever happened, Greene, just forget it. Don’t tempt me beyond my boundaries. I regret it.”

Somehow I had this ache inside me when he said it. He regretted it.

“W-why did you come?” I forced myself to ask.

“-to talk about the partnership. It’s late Juliet, get some rest. We’ll discuss this tomorrow.”

And with that cold gesture, he walked out, distancing himself once again. Back to Mr. Brute.

Why did I feel so bloody empty when he left? I felt a mixture of frustration, anger, and hurt swell inside of me when he walked out of the room. The feeling was honestly agonizing. My blood heated to an abnormal temperature as the sick sensation pricked through my body. Maybe I needed some rest.

These days I was lacking a good sleep. By that, I meant sleeping comfortably on a soft bed with no worries. Closing my eyes, I found myself quickly drifting into a deep peaceful slumber. Finally. 

The place was cold and damp. I walked through the narrow hallway, holding my breath. Why did this place look so familiar? I had been here before, I knew I had. The chilly air bit me as I walked along. I was headed for a door. A room that seemed so familiar, I was afraid, yet I couldn’t stop myself. It was as if something was controlling me, I felt like a puppet on strings being forced to walk into the room. That room, why did I dread it so much? There were hands holding me, it felt like two people were on either side of me, pushing me towards the room, yet when I turned, no one was there. It seemed as if timed froze when I opened the door. In front of me stood a girl, the same girl from the Sovereignty Cult, the one who I had beaten with the walking stick. No, was she here to kill me? Oh God no, I didn’t want to die, not yet. Panic swarmed through me, I wanted to run but I couldn’t. I felt glued in place. Please, no. She stalked towards me with a devilish expression. Oh God, please no. She held something, a large portable silver spray tank. No, I remember that. They had used it on me, tortured me with that non-burning acidic venom. She was going to do it again. Before I could even plea for help, I felt it burning my skin, this time eating away my flesh. The pain inflicted through me like ripples of shock. All I could do was cry away the pain.

Shooting up from my bed, I began screaming at the sudden burns I was experiencing at the moment. That dream, it felt so real. I tried rubbing my arms aggressively in the hope that the feeling would go away. It didn’t. It was so horrible. I continued screaming as this agony inflicted me. The burns, I still felt it. Adrian suddenly rushed into my room.

“Greene! What the hell’s wrong with you?” He asked as he tried to stop me from rubbing my arms.

“It burns! Adrian, please stop it!”

“Stop what? There’s nothing there!”

“Please make it stop!” I begged and sobbed frantically.

“Juliet.” He breathed tiredly as he cradled me in his arms.

Burying my face into his T-shirt, I tried to clog my crying. It felt so real, the pain was so intense. I couldn’t stand it.

“Goodness, is she alright?” I heard Mrs. Gilbert.

Peace, I wanted peace. That dream was too horrid, too vivid. That memory, the pain I felt. I wanted it to stop. Blocking everything out, I pressed my face even deeper into his chest, clutching tightly onto his T-shirt. I didn’t want to be alone right now, I didn’t. I probably hadn’t realized it but I felt calmer, more at ease. I needed this.

The sweet sound of the birds chirping outside tickled my ears causing me to open my heavy eyelids. Regaining my vision clearly, I noticed that I was hugging someone who was sitting and leaning against my soft bed headboard behind. Even though I had been hugging and leaning on the person’s chest, it felt oddly comfortable. My heart pounded out of my body only to realize who it was. Adrian? Quickly, I moved slightly back, but he kept a strong arm around my waist which still kept our intimacy with each other. I felt astonished at how close I had gotten myself to him. He, on the other hand, seemed amused by that.

“Were you drunk last night or something?” He asked curiously with a slight smirk.

“W-what?” I quizzed back still a bit fazed by where and how close we were.

 Placing the palm of my hand against his stomach to kept whatever distance we can, I realized how outlined he had been. It felt as if it was sculpted from marble. Gosh, he must be gorgeous shirtless.

No, don’t think like that Julie. Take your hands off him.

Swiftly, I managed to move away from him and keep an appropriate distance between us. He looked at me as if I was some sort of immature child and got up from the bed. It was different seeing him in this attire, a grey T-shirt and white sweatpants. He almost looked approachable and non-intimidating without his suit and tie.

Pulling the curtain aside and allowing the sunlight to penetrate the room, he took a deep breath, “That must’ve been a nasty dream last night, Greene.”

“It didn’t feel like a dream,” I responded softly as I shut my eyes and recalled the horrid memory.

I knew he heard me but he didn’t say anything to me about that. Instead, he folded his arms and eyed my room absorbing its features, “It’s too girly in here. I honestly never expected you to be this sort of person.”

“Well, what did you expect, chainsaws and iron maidens?”

He gave a quick low raspy chuckle upon hearing that. Stretching out my hands, I dropped myself back on the bed and turned my head in Adrian’s direction, “I thought you said the others would have been here by now?”

“Something came up.”

“Oh, so I’m stuck with you?” I teased trying to forget about all my problems as if they never existed.

“You didn’t have to come with me, Greene.”

“I know.”

Suddenly, I heard a knock on my door. Getting off the bed, I opened it to be greeted by Mrs. Gilbert.

“How are you feeling, dear?” She asked.

“Better. I’m sorry about last night if I woke you up, Mrs. Gilbert.”

Placing her hand on my head, she warmly smiled, “That’s alright. I was really worried about you, I’m glad you’re alright now. Actually Julie… I got a call this morning to collect a package in Denver.”

“You’re leaving?” I asked a bit saddened at her sudden departure.

“Yes, today. It’s very important, I hope you understand.”

“No, no. I understand. It’s just that, well, it was nice to meet you again.”

“I hope you visit again. My house just got finished with its renovation this morning, so I guess everything is sorted out.”

“I guess so,” I replied softly.

“Goodbye Juliet, take care of yourself.”

“Goodbye, Mrs. Gilbert.”

She looked at Vandermir with a smile, “Mr. Vandermir”

“Mrs. Gilbert.” He nodded.

And with that, she left. It felt like a shot of pain was injected into me. Why do people always keep leaving me? I mean, I know she probably had good reason, but maybe it’s just me? Maybe I’m just unlucky. No, don’t think about it, Julie. Just move on with your life.

“Ex-employer.” I heard Adrian chuckle from behind, “You think she bought that shit, Greene?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, what sort of ex-employee sleeps with her ex-employer?” He said arching an eyebrow.

“Well, it wasn’t like that.”

“Of course it wasn’t, but still, it just doesn’t look good,” he stated and walked out.

I really hoped Mrs. Gilbert didn’t think like that. There was nothing between Adrian and me. After getting ready, I looked at myself in my mirror. And God, I looked terrible. I felt so unhealthy and weak. Maybe Vandermir was right, maybe I do eat too much junk. When I’m stressed I tend to do that a lot and I don’t take care of myself. That’s probably why I feel so sick these days. Okay, I have to fix this. Taking a deep positive breath, I convinced myself that I should take a jog this morning. I have to start taking care of myself again. If I don’t do it, then who else would?

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